New York, NY, September 7, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the Canadian government's "important and highly visible" rejection of Iran's nuclear weapons program with its decision to sever all diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Canada announced that it was shutting its embassy in Tehran and expelling all Iranian diplomats from Canadian territory. In a strongly worded statement, the Canadian government declared that "Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today."

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

Canada's principled stand against the belligerent Iranian regime has set a new example of leadership, integrity and principle for the international community to emulate.

Once again, Canada has taken the lead in providing an example for other countries, reinforcing a clear message to the Iranian regime that their nuclear activity and violent anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric will no longer be tolerated by the community of nations.

We call on other countries to follow suit, and continue ratcheting up diplomatic and other pressures against the Iranian regime.

ADL is the world’s leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.